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I have a 28 y.o female netball client who has a history of a fractured ankle while ice skating which resulted in surgical fixation.
She is beginning to think about netball again and was looking into an ankle brace. She tried the Swedo brace but found after a very short time there was irritation on the lateral ankle at the location of her screws.

I was hoping to get some advice on a "softer" yet still supportive device that may be more suitable.

I have a 28 y.o female netball client who has a history of a fractured ankle while ice skating which resulted in surgical fixation.
She is beginning to think about netball again and was looking into an ankle brace. She tried the Swedo brace but found after a very short time there was irritation on the lateral ankle at the location of her screws.

I was hoping to get some advice on a "softer" yet still supportive device that may be more suitable.

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I would think - without seeing the patient that - after a very short time there was irritation on the lateral ankle at the location of her screws. is going to be a problem with all off the shelf ankle braces, if you think about what they are trying to achieve.

- You try your local P & O and get them to make something custom.

- use lateral skive orthotic with high lateral flange ( for netball and all sports) to reduce the lateral instability thus reducing the forces and not stressing the fixation screws.

- work out a ankle taping technique which does no irritate the fixation screws which make the patient feel stable, maybe even use in combo with the 2nd idea ( which is what I would try)

We sometimes do these for our CMT ladies, it stabilizes the ankle and being out of leather fits nicely into the shoe without destroying it, meaning you can wear it or not in the same shoe and not lose the fit.

To be honest with you I think she really wants it for the psychological comfort in the beginning of getting back to some lower grade netball to see how she goes. She is jogging without pain, and I know that she has been at some netball training sessions and participated in some drills, also without pain.
I think taping would possibly be the best option but she would rather a brace for ease of use.
David - I do like the custom leather braces I have seen recently and can certainly suggest this as an option.

To be honest with you I think she really wants it for the psychological comfort in the beginning of getting back to some lower grade netball to see how she goes. She is jogging without pain, and I know that she has been at some netball training sessions and participated in some drills, also without pain.
I think taping would possibly be the best option but she would rather a brace for ease of use.
David - I do like the custom leather braces I have seen recently and can certainly suggest this as an option.

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If physical support is less important, then you might wish to consider something like a Malleotrain from Bauerfeind.

There are plenty of alternative braces that do the same thing but are perhaps less expensive. The Malleotrain offers compression and the silicone reinforcement provides "increased sensory input". If I remember correctly, there may be some little silicone nobbles on the inside for maintaining position and increasing sensory input(although I could be thinking of the achillodyn from Beagle?!)

Patients seem to report good feeling of security from these types of braces and if you wish to increase the mechanical support, you can also send it to an orthotic lab and get them to stitch on an elasticated velcro strap, avoiding the screws causing the problem.

Slightly less expensive than a gauntlet and returnable if not fitting well enough to give good "support". If going to be long term and more mechanical support required, the gauntlet is the best idea.

Best of luck

Robin

I see you girls checkin' out my trunks
I see you girls checkin' out the front of my trunks
I see you girls lookin' at my junk, then checkin' out my rump, then back to my sugarlumps

I can highly recommend ankle braces from orthomedico - bledsloe side kick. From personal experience, history of chronic lateral ankle sprains, ankle reco and still playing netball - this brace is the only brace I can find on the market to keep me on the netball court. It is also - so much more comfortable and less restricting on plantar and dorsiflexion compared to any other brace.